Jabrill Peppers. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Patriots make head-scratching move with a former first-round pick

By Jordan Sigler | Last updated Aug 29, 2025 3:26 PM ET

One year after signing veteran cornerback Jabrill Peppers to a three-year contract extension worth $25 million, the New England Patriots made a wild decision to part ways with him after training camp.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Patriots are letting him go despite $4.32 million in guaranteed money still remaining on his deal for 2025.

"Patriots are releasing veteran safety Jabrill Peppers, per source. Peppers still has $4.32 million guaranteed remaining on his contract for this season," Schefter posted on X.

"Peppers has started 85 games, including 26 with New England, and has totaled over 500 tackles, seven interceptions, six forced fumbles, and seven fumble recoveries in the NFL."

Patriots are releasing veteran safety Jabrill Peppers, per source. Peppers still has $4.32 million guaranteed remaining on his contract for this season.

Peppers has started 85 games, including 26 with New England, and has totaled over 500 tackles, seven interceptions, six forced… pic.twitter.com/0D8xc5vzH7
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 29, 2025

Per Mike Reiss of ESPN, veteran cornerback Jaylinn Hawkins and rookie fourth-round pick Craig Woodson usurped Peppers on the depth chart during training camp.

New head coach Mike Vrabel was trying to get Peppers to play a different style for the Patriots this season after being a physical safety for former head coaches Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo. He didn't appear to fit the new system.

Still, the move makes no sense for the Patriots, as it doesn't save cap space and it robs them of a quality depth piece. The 2017 first-round pick by the Cleveland Browns has plenty of good football left in him, as evidenced in 2023.

Peppers only played in six games last season due to being placed on the commissioner's exempt list and dealing with a hamstring injury. He managed to make 40 tackles, two tackles for loss, one interception and one forced fumble in those six games.

The five-foot-11, 217-pound defensive back should be able to find a starting job somewhere else or provide depth on a roster expecting to make a postseason run.

Jordan Sigler

Jordan Sigler is a sports writer with a decade of experience as a journalist, including his time as a breaking news/day cops reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. His sports coverage across the NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, and college football world has also been featured at ChiCitySports, Gridiron Heroics, Pro Football Network, and Athlon Sports. Based in Austin, Texas, Jordan graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism from Texas Tech University in 2014

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